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The differences between research and development technicians and research and development engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a research and development technician, becoming a research and development engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a research and development engineer has an average salary of $100,169, which is higher than the $83,552 average annual salary of a research and development technician.
The top three skills for a research and development technician include R, project management and product management. The most important skills for a research and development engineer are python, R, and solidworks.
| Research And Development Technician | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $83,552 | $100,169 |
| Hourly rate | $40.17 | $48.16 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 111,268 | 187,910 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 40 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A research and development technician specializes in performing mathematical and laboratory operations to support projects concerning products and development. Usually functioning as an assistant to a more experienced researcher, a research and development technician's responsibilities revolve around conducting analysis, building models and prototypes, producing reports, and performing various experiments. Furthermore, as a technician, it is crucial to coordinate with all team members, keeping an accurate record of all processes while adhering to the company's standards and regulations.
Research and development engineers generally execute research and tests on product ideas, develop new products, and perform redesigns. They are employed in many industries, including manufacturing, electrical, and science-based companies. Their duties vary and depend on the industries they work in. Responsibilities of these engineers include developing new technologies, designing products, and managing the projects until they are completed. Additionally, they lead the project team members to manage their schedules, design the project plans, and collaborate with key departments in developing new products.
Research and development technicians and research and development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research And Development Technician | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $83,552 | $100,169 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $125,000 | Between $74,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | California |
| Best paying company | PayPal | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a research and development technician and a research and development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Research And Development Technician | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Duke University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between research and development technicians' and research and development engineers' demographics:
| Research And Development Technician | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 40 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.5% Female, 27.5% | Male, 85.2% Female, 14.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 15.4% White, 50.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.7% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |